2024-04-16
6 分钟The Economist Hi there, it's Jason Palmer here,
co-host of The Intelligence, our daily news and current affairs podcast.
This is Editor's Picks.
You're about to hear an article from the latest edition of The Economist read aloud.
Enjoy.
The story of the Israel Defense Forces is the story of Israel itself.
From the creation of the state in 1948,
the IDF has repeatedly fought and won wars with Arab countries that were bent on destroying it.
Israelis see their army as the best of themselves, tough, shrewd and innovative.
Despite the IDF's terrible failure to predict or prevent the incursion from Gaza on October 7th,
2023, many Israelis think their army has gone on to have a good war.
A former Israeli general and national security adviser this week said that Operation Swords of Iron would come to be viewed as an exemplar of how to conduct urban combat.
As our reporting makes clear, the reality in Gaza is different.
The campaign against Hamas is justified,
but it has been marred by the IDF's over-reliance on technology and a lack of strategic thinking.
Most of all,
the army has suffered from the self-serving rivalries and cramped vision of Israel's political leaders.
As so often, Palestinians have paid the price.
In this too, the story of the IDF is the story of Israel.
Two areas where the IDF has fallen short are its responsibility as an occupying power and its duty to minimize civilian deaths.